Existence and exact multiplicity of positive radial solutions of semilinear elliptic problems in annuli. (Q5954470)

The author studies the existence, nonexistence and exact multiplicity of positive radial solutions of the equation NEWLINE\[NEWLINE -\Delta u = f(u) \quad\text{in}\quad B(R_1,R)=\{x\in{\mathbb R}^n: R_1<| x| <R \} \leqno(*) NEWLINE\]NEWLINE where \(n\geq 3\), \(R_1>0\) is fixed, and \(f(t)=t^p-t^q\) where \(1<p<q\) and \(p\leq (n+2)/(n-2)\). The two main results are the following.NEWLINENEWLINE(i) For the boundary condition \(u=0\) on \(\partial B(R_1,R)\) there exist \(R_0\geq \tilde R > R_1\) such that \((*)\) has exactly two positive radial solutions if \(R>R_0\) and no such solution if \(R<\tilde R\).NEWLINENEWLINE(ii) For the boundary condition \(u=0\) on \(| x| =R_1\) and \(\partial u/\partial\nu=0\) on \(| x| =R\) there exists \(R_0 > R_1\) such that \((*)\) has exactly two positive radial solutions if \(R>R_0\), exactly one such solution if \(R=R_0\) and no solution if \(R<R_0\).